Bourne 5 delay reportedly due to Matt Damon returning

The 43-year-old star is said to be in talks to reprise his role as amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne following his departure from the series – which is based on Robert Ludlum’s books of the same names – after the third Paul Greengrass directed film, The Bourne Ultimatum, in 2007.

Damon claimed earlier this year that he wouldn’t return to the series unless Greengrass returned as director, saying at the time: “I’ve always been open to it if Paul Greengrass is the director.”

However, with Bourne 5’s release date being delayed until 15 July 2016 the Latino Review has reported that it’s because Damon has agreed to return to his signature role under the direction of Fast and Furious filmmaker Justin Lin.

Earlier this year, Universal hired Sherlock Holmes scribe Anthony Peckham to write a script for the new Bourne film.